Everyone is a Manager Today - No Joke

Everyone manages something today.

People, and even kids, today are all engaged in managing... something. Whether it is the operation and projects of their own life, someone they take care of routinely, or even, and here' the kicker, their gaming existence. But first, consider what I mean, at the base of the argument, that everyone is a manager today.



At its root "to manage" is little more than being in charge of, administering, or running something. It might be the operation of a group of people, the interaction between groups of people, or the interactions of people and technology (and now the interaction between 'groups' of technology). In a business setting the role of management can be quite a convoluted. Some make statements, such as "you lead people and manage process," or any number of variations. Ask three people the difference of leadership and managing and you might be lucky with five definitions.

Consider this aspect of life today, we exist and survive because of the technology created by our forebears and successfully deployed and employed routinely. Why is this important? Each piece of technology, for the most part, seeks to create an efficiency and that efficiency generally involves reducing the number of people needed for the task. I know, there are technologies that accomplish things that cannot be done no matter how many people are available, and that is true, but they are the compound benefit of the first efficiencies that freed the time of people to think and invent. It all starts with excess agricultural yield, but for this let's fast forward to now and consider some common technologies.

Consider the two-way radio, or the cell phone for that matter, it eliminates the need for runners to carry messages between communicating parties. Event notepads, pencils and pens, eliminate the need for remembering information. In security a security officer's uniform is a piece of technology that eliminates the need for "the person of authority" to be present as the uniform designates to whom "the person of authority" has delegated their authority. The point here is that someone, likely the user, is responsible for managing the radio, such as ensuring it operates and is undamaged, the batteries have a sufficient charge, that the uniform is in good maintenance, that the vehicle has sufficient fuel and is maintained, and so on and so forth.

What makes people, and kids, today different? Simulators. Role-playing video games have become quite realistic. Some might argue they are teaching kids to be violent, and that is outside of the scope, and unrelated, to this discussion. The realism of these simulators, even those in a fantasy setting, drives a player to assimilate a lot of information quickly, plan their actions, and ensure their character or avatar is prepared for the next challenge. They may have to manage food supplies, the health of the character, weapons statuses and capabilities, other supplies as needed in the simulator, and do all this while interacting (virtually) with their environment and other players (although not always).

In addition, as the kids today play these simulators they learn to assimilate the information more rapidly, and more fully, than was necessary decades ago. As the speed of the world increases as a pace necessary to shape whole populations, these simulators only have to increase the decision speed of the players. "Kids" today are able to assimilate information presented through these sorts of interfaces incredibly fast - as is needed by the game (simulator).  And, these simulators demand incrementally improving performance from the player, who complies to continue and advance.

Today's security officers, and other "line employees" are often well socialized into the world of online gaming, and these games often require significant problem solving, resource management, focus, and determination. Keep this in mind if you are charged with guiding, training, and developing these individuals. Given the right context their ability to grasp, excel, and even improve the current processes, because they have been tasked, and continue to seek relaxation, with simulators that challenge them. The question then is whether they are being challenged at work?